CONCORD — The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on this investigation into a national outbreak of fungal meningitis.

New England Compounding Pharmacy of Framingham, Mass., produced the recalled medication that, here in New Hampshire, was distributed to Pain Care LLC, the Somersworth and Merrimack locations only. Pain Care has sent all the unused recalled product back to the manufacturer. The steroid medication is used for injections for pain management.

“We are working very closely with Pain Care who are today working to contact the roughly 186 patients who received this medication,” said NH's Public Health Director Dr. Jose Montero. “We are not aware of any cases in New Hampshire related to this outbreak at this time. We are also conducting surveillance to identify people who might be affected by thissituation. We realize this is concerning as this can be an extremely serious and in some cases fatal illness.”

There are many different types of meningitis, a general term for an infection or inflammatory process involving the lining of the brain and central nervous system. The cases under investigation have no relation to the much more common forms of bacterial or viral meningitis. This particular form of meningitis in this outbreak is not transmissible fromperson to person. The cause of the outbreak is believed to be associated with the recalled medication but it is still under investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Drug Administration.

To date, there have been 35 cases and five deaths in six states. However, the situation continues to evolve and the number of cases will likely change in the coming days.

For more information visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov or call the DPHS Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 603-271-4496.